Good Roads, Crazy Drivers!

After our trek, Matt came down with an illness and was bed ridden for a few days in Santa Marta. Forunately, our room had a great selection of movie channels, so for about 3 or 4 days Brad, Jayson, Matt and I chilled in Santa Marta.
On Sunday, we made the jump to Cartagena. We forgot to take into account that it was Easter Sunday, and we were in the most desired Colombian holiday destination. This being said, upon arrival to the bus terminal, getting a bus ticket looked grim with huge queues and copious amounts of peoples bum rushing the incoming busses. After a long wait in a queue, we managed to get some tickets. Matt and I sat in the VERY front of the bus, next to the driver, whereas Brad and Jayson sat in the VERY back.
After four hours of speeding and swerving around cars, trucks and motorcycles, we arrived in Cartagena and grabbed a taxi to an up-and-coming hotel. It was still under construction, but the brand new beds and pillows were so comfortable! The place also had a pool, restaurant, rooftop terrace with speakers and a bar (under constuction). It was a great place to hang out and most of the guests were from England.
We spent most of our time chilling at the hotel. One day, while I was bed ridden (too much ron), Matt, Jay, Brad and the posh English couple, Alex and Flo went to venture the city looking for a bar to watch the Manchester, Liverpool footy match. Instead, they ate some delicious lunch and proceeded to get lost on the way back home. Apparently no taxis had heard of this new hotel and none of them knew the street name it was on. After taking several taxis to find the hotel with some frustrated passengers, they arrived safe on the positive note that it was a nice way to see the city.
The old city is surrounded by big walls with canons on them, which were built in the 1600s to fend off the pilaging of pirates. It being an important port for South American treasures made it a big target and victim to several pirate attacks.

Yarrr!

Thursday, we decided was time to get out of Colombia. Unfortunate really, but we had to get a move on south. Next destination: Beach in Ecuador.
To get to the border took 48 hours, 3 busses and 3 taxis. We crossed the border by foot and hopped on a fourth taxi to the Tulcan bus terminal.
We decided to go to Atacames to chill on the beach for Jays last week of travel. Getting there took another 3 busses, 10 hours and only cost us 10 US dollars (that is the currency used here).
It is the dry season, but despite the little rain, the sky is often overcast. It is still warm though and the beach is beautiful, long and lined with bars. We have played some beach volleyball, tried some midnight surfing and enjoyed the cheap restaurants.
Right now, we are hunting for a surf shop to buy fins and a leash for the board we adopted. Unfortunately, all we have been able to find is wax. Soon, the surf town of Montañita!